Safety timing traffic light



Feb; 3, 1942. E. MCGUINNEss SAFETY TIMING TRAFFIC LIGHT Filed Oct. 2, 1940- Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY TIMING TRAFFIC LIGHT Eleanor McGunness, Jackson Heights, N. Y; Application october 2, 1940, serial N0.`359,354

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements inra safety timing trafc light.

More specically the invention proposes the n construction and application of a safety timing tralic light for location upon the top of a conventionally constructed traflic light signal and operative during thel time the red lighty of the trafficv light is lit for the purpose of indicatingl to pedestrians and to motorists the amount of time still to elapse before the light changes from red to green or vicey versa. Still further the invention proposes to characterize the timing traffic light, by a vertically extended tube into which a signal fluid is adapted toY be pumped to slowly rise Within the tube from the bottom upwards and tovbe controlled by the red' light circuit for the purpose ofindicating the amount of time remaining before the light changes.

` Still further theinvention proposesl the application of a red light tothe bottom of the tube which is adapted to belit during the time they signal fluidr is risingwithin the tube forthe purpose of illuminating the same in a manner to y make the device visible at night.

A further object of this invention proposes theapplicationofa means for quickly drawing the iiuid out of the tube during the time the signal is green' for the purpose of resetting the device of Fig. 2.

toagain repeat itsnormal operation when the light again turns red.

A further object of this invention is the construction of a signal safety timing traiiic light andv device forl application upon av conventional traffic light having one'operative sidev or the construction of a double superimposed safety timing trame light mounted upon a conventionally constructed traffic light having four operative sides in a manner to permit the device to be used upon conventionally' constructed traiic' lights of different types.

A further object o f this inventionY is the construction of a safety timing tralicl light as mentioned which is simple and' durable and` which may be manufactured and soldat a reasonable cost.

For further comprehensionk of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof', reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and. to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are vmore particularly set forth.

, In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1v is a perspective View of a safety timing traflic light constructed in accordance withy this Fig. l` is an enlarged Vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of. Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlargedhorizontal sectional view on the line 5--5 otFig.` 3.

Fig. 5A. is` a` vertical sectional view taken ony Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device.

Fig. 'lv isla view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modiiication of the invention.

Fig'. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustratingY astill further modification of the invention. lThe lsafety timing traliic light, according to this invention, is to be used in combination with f a conventionallyV constructedy traic lightsignal consisting of a casing I0 having a green light II and a red light I2. An electric circuiti I3 is provided for controlling the illumination of the green light I'I and alike circuit I4 is provided for controlling: the illumination of the red light I2'. The association ofthe circuits I3 and I4 is such that they are connected with a-conventional means, not shown in the drawing, which will cause the, red and green lights to be successively lit and extinguished for predetermined periods of time for the purpose of indicating to pedestrians and motorists when they are to proceed and when they are to stop. v

The safety timing trafic light, is characterized by a tube I5' constructed of clear glass and hav'- ing a wavy contour. The tube I5 is extended vertically upwards from the top wall of the casing' I0. A horizontal wall I6 is positioned above the top Wall of the casing I'Il and is heldin position' thereonby means of several legs I1. The tube I5 is located between the adjacent faces'ofthe top -Wall of the casing Ill and the bottom face of the horizontal Wall I6. A tank I8 is mounted Within the casing I0 adjacent the top wall thereof and is provided for storing a red signal fluid I9. A liquid pump 20 is'also mounted within the casing. I IJ adjacent the top Wall thereof andv is connected withv the tank I8 by means of a pipe 2 I. The operative mechanism of the liquid pump is connected in the red light circuit I4 for the purpose of setting the pump in operation when the redl light I2 of the traflic light signal is lit. The liquid pump 20 is of a type capable of forcing 55. a liquidto slowly rise Withinv the tube I5., The

bottom end of the glass tube I5 is connected with a fork element 22 one arm of which is provided with a pipe 23 which connects with the liquid pump 20.

When the liquid pump 28 is set in operation when the red light I2 is lit it draws signal fluid from the tank I8 and pumps the same through the pipe 23 to cause the same to rise slowly within the tube I5. The liquid pump 28 is of an adjustable nature and is adapted to be adjusted to pump a sufficient quantity of signal fluid to rise slowly from the bottom to the top of the tube I5 during the time the red light I2 is lit. The construction is such that when the signal fluid I9 reaches the top of the tube .I5-the liquid pump is to stop operating when the red light goes out and at which time the green light II becomes lit.

The other arm of the fork element 22 is connected to a pipe 24 which has its free end connected to the tank I8 for acting as a drain, for conveying the signal fluid I9 pumped into the tube I5 back to the tank I8 during the time the green light is lit.

A valve is mounted in the arm of the fork element 22 which is connected with the drain pipe 24 and is arranged forclosing the drainduring the time the liquid pump is in operation. This valve is characterized by a turnably mounted cock 25 located within the arm of the fork. element 22. The cock 25 is provided with a passage 25a which is adapted to be successively aligned and disaligned with the passage of the arm through the fork element 22 for opening and closing this passage. The cock 25 is providedwith an outwardly extended stem 25 upon the` outer end of which a radially extended arm 21 kis ilxedly mounted.

A means is connected with the arm 21 for the purpose of turning the stem 26 to move the cock 25 into an operative and inoperative position. This means comprises a solenoid 28 mounted upon the top of the tank I8. The solenoid 28 comprises a coil 28a mounted in the green lightl circuit I3. A bar 28b extends through the coil 28EL and has its free end attached to the free end of the radial arm 21 for drawing the arm 21 to a position in which the passage 25a through the cock 25 will be aligned with the passage through the arm of the fork element 22 lto permit the liquid to be drawn back into the' tank I8: A spring 29 is provided for drawing the radial the tank I8. The suction pump 30 is connected with the tank I8 by means of a pipe 3l.

A means is also provided for illuminating the liquid fluid I9 during the time the red light I2 is lit for the purpose of illuminating the rising red signal fluid I9 to make the same visible at night. This means comprises a red light 32 mounted within the bottom portion of the tube I5 and connected by means of leads 33 with the red light circuit I4 for causing the same to be lit during the time the red light I2 is lit. This lamp 32 is mounted within a socket 34 positioned within a rubber element 35. The back of the tube I5 adjacent the bottom thereof is provided with an opening 36 into which the rubber element 35 is adapted to be extended and which acts as a stopper for preventing the loss of signal fluid therethrough. This rubber element further tightly and waterprooily engages about the base of the lamp I2 for the purpose of preventing the fluid from entering the socket 34 causing a short circuit.

The device is further `provided with a means for collecting signal fluid I9 which should be discharged from the top of the tube I5 to prevent the spilling and loss thereof. The top of the tube I5 is open to prevent airfrom being entrapped therein and is connected with a return pipe 31 v which extents into the top of the casing I0 and is connected with an auxiliary tank 38. Any signal fluid I9 which spills from the top of the tube I5 will pass down through the pipe `31 and enter the auxiliary tank 38. The auxiliary tank 38 is connected with the tank I9 by means of a pipe 39. A manually controllable valve 48 is positioned in the pipe 39 for preventing the suction created within the tank I8 from drawing the fluid collected within the auxiliary tank 38 into the tank f I8. If it were not for this valve 40, the interior arm 21 into a position in which the passage 25a .v

through the cock 25 will be disaligned with relation to the passage through the arm of the fork element 22 for closing this passage the minute the green light circuit goes out, de-energizing the coil 28a of the solenoid.

A means is provided for creating a partial vacuum within the tank I8 for the purpose of quickly sucking the signal fluid I9 out of the tube I5 the minute the Valve 25 is moved to its open position. This means comprises a suction pump 3IJ capable of drawing air from a closed chamber to set up a partial vacuum and positioned adjacent the liquid pump and which is also mounted in the red light circuit for sucking air out of the tank I8 during the time the red light I2 is lit. When the red light I2 goes out and the green light II is illuminated, the valve 25 will move to its open position and the vacuum created within the tank IB will4 quickly suck the signal fluid I9 out of the tube I5 through the pipe 24 to discharge into of the auxiliary tank 38 would be connected with the top of the tube I5 and suction created therein would draw the signal fluid I9 upwards within the tube I5 faster than it is being pumped by the liquid pump 38. This valve 40 is adapted to be opened during adjustment periods for the purpose of permitting the fluid gathered within the auxiliary tank 38 to be discharged into the tank I8.

The lamp 32 may be of any other danger signalling color, such as yellow, amber. etc.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

The tank I8 is partially filled with a sufcient quantity of signal fluid I9 to flll the tube I5 therewith. The liquid pump 20, suction pump 30, and red lamp 32 are mounted in the red light circuit I4 `and the coil 28a of the solenoid 28 is connected in the green light circuit I3.V The traffic light signal is turned'on and permitted to operate in the conventional manner to successively illuminate the green lamp II and the red lamp I2. During the time the red lamp I2 is lit the liquid pump 20 willV be in operation to slowly pump the signal fluid I9 upwards within the tube I5 to llthe entire tube during the time the red light I2 is lit. As the fluidapproaches the top of the tube I5, pedestrians approaching the signal light will know that the red light is about to change to green and they will be able toV determine whether or not they will have ak sufficient opportunity to proceed across a crossing before the said change takes place. During the time the red light I2 is lit the suction pump 30 will also be in operation to create a partial vacuum within the tanky I8.

When the red light I2 goes out the'green light II will become 'illuminated, energizing thercoil 28aof the solenoid v28, this will cause the Valve 25 to be opened, permitting the partial vacuum set up within the tank lI8 to quicklyl draw the signal iiuid I 9 contained within the tube I5 back into the tank I8. The solenoid 28 will remain energized during the period of time that the green light is lit and will become deenergized when the green light goes out, permitting the spring 29 to draw the valve 25 back to its closed position. When the green light II goes out, the red'light I2 will become litagain energizing the liquid pump 20, the suction pump 30, and the lamp 32 to again pump the fluid I9 upwards within the tube I to repeat the procedure hereinabove outlined.

According to the modification of the inventionshown in Fig. 7, the `construction of the safety f timing traffic light is similar to that previously described except for the fact that the glass tube I5' for the signal fluid I9 assumes a zigzag vertically extended contour.

In other respects this form ofthe invention is similar to that previously described and like reference numerals are used for identifying the like parts in each of the several Views.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the construction of the timing device is similar to that previously described eX- cept for its application to a traffic light signal I0 having a four sided operation. That is, each of the four sides of the casing I9' of the traffic signal light is provided with a green light I I and a red light I2. Thus there is a safety traffic light device provided for each of the groups of lights for the purpose of successively indicating to pedestrians and to motorists approaching from different directions the amount of time that the red light will be lit before again turning to green. In this form of the invention there are two safety timing traffic light devices, each characterized by a tube I5' and each having a separate operating mechanism as outlined in the previous form of the invention. The construction is such that only one tube I5 will be in operation at any one time.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously described and like reference numerals are used for identifying like parts in each of the several views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim Yas new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a traffic light having a green light control ycircuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for l storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by the other of said circuits.

2. In combination with a traffic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a

pump for pumping said signal liuidinto said tube filling thev tube from the bottom `upwards and set into and out of operation by yone of' said circuits, a drain fromV the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating'said' valve controlled by the other `of said circuits, said signal fluid being red and means for illuminating the same while rising within said tube to be visible at night.

3. In combination with a traflic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a

pump 'for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by the other of said circuits, said signal fluid being red and means for illuminating the same while rising within said tube to be visible at night, said illuminating means comprising a lamp mounted within the base of said tube and connected in said red light control circuit for being illuminated during the time said red light control circuit is in operation.

4. In combination with a traic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal iiuid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal iiuid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by one of said circuits, said means comprising a radial arm extending from said valve, and a solenoid mounted in said green light circuit to vdirect said radial arm to open said valve during the time said green light is lit.

5. In combination with a traffic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating` said valve controlled by the other of said circuits, and means for creating a suction within the top portion of said tank to quickly draw said signal fluid back into said tank during the time said valve is open.

6. In combination with a traffic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits,V a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by the other of said circuits, and means for creatinga suction within the top portion of said tank to quickly draw said signal fluid back into said tank during th'e time said valve is open, said means comprising. a suction pump connected in said red light circuit to operate during the time said red light circuit is in operation.

'7. In combination with a trafiic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain vfrom the bottom of said tube to said tank, a Valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by the other of said circuits, said tube having a wavy contour,

8. In combination with a traffic light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal uid, a signal uid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal uid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits', a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by the other of said circuits, said tube having a zigzag contour.

9. In combination with a trafc light having a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, a tube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal fluid in said tank, a pump Cil for pumping said signal uid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled by the other of said circuits, said tube and operating mechanism being duplicated for use upon a conventionally constructed traic llight signal having successively operated sides.

10. In combination with a traiiic light h'aving a green light control circuit and a red light control circuit, altube for a signal fluid, a tank for storing a signal fluid, a signal uid in said tank, a pump for pumping said signal fluid into said tube filling the tube from the bottom upwards and set into and out of operation by one of said circuits, a drain from the bottom of said tube to said tank, a valve closing said drain, and means for operating said valve controlled bythe other of said circuits, an auxiliary tank, and means for conveying signal fluid spilling from the top of said tube back to said auxiliary tank.

ELEANOR MCGUINNESS. 

